Self-alining catch



July 26, 1960 A. w. AHLGREN SELF-ALINING CATCH Filed Feb. 24, 1958 m vsww'e (1 Mel MCR h lsv'e n M4. K m, Wm 4 UTTQIQNEY/ Patented July. 26,. 19,50

SELF-ALlNlNG CATCH Axel Ahlgren, Rockford, 11]., assignor to Amerock Corporation, Rockford, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Feb. 24, 1958, Ser. No. 717,138

2 Claims. (Cl. 292-17) This invention relates to a catch such as may cooperate with a strike to hold a cabinet door closed and, more particularly, to a catch whose body is received in a hole in a panel of the cabinet frame so that the major portion of the catch is behind the panel.

The general object of the invention is to provide a new and improved catch of the above character which automatically alines itself with the strike the first time the door is closed and which, when alined, is held in that position for subsequent closings of the door.

A more detailed object is to make the catch smaller than the hole so the catch may shift laterally relative to the strike and to construct the catch in a novel manner to retain the alined position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a cabinet employing the novel catch of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a rear view.

Figure 3 is a side view showing the manner of mounting the catch.

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the catch.

As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the invention is embodied in a catch 5 which is mounted on a panel or wall 6 of a cabinet and which coacts with a strike 7 mounted on the cabinet door 8 to hold the door closed. Preferably, the catch is formed as a single molded piece of resilient plastic material, such as nylon, and is received in a rectangular hole 9 in the panel 6.

Herein, the catch 5 is composed of spaced parallel legs or walls 10 and 11 spanned at one end by a crosspiece 12 which with the legs forms a generally U-shaped body. The opposite or outer ends of the legs are joined by a rectangular flange 13 which projects laterally outwardly from the legs to overlap the panel 6 around the hole 9, the body portion of the catch being disposed behind the outer side of the panel. Projecting forwardly from the crosspiece 12 are two spaced spring fingers .14 which are formed integrally with the crosspiece and which receive the strike 7. The latter is in the form of a rounded head on the end of a screw (not shown) which is threaded into the door 8.

In accordance with the present invention, the catch 5 is constructed in a novel manner so that it may shift Within the hole 9 so as to aline itself automatically with the strike 7 the first time the door 8 is closed and is arranged to retain this alined position during subsequent opening and closing of the door. To these ends, the spacing between the side walls 10 and 11 is substantially less than the width of the hole 9 so that there are clearances 15 between these walls and the ends of the hole and means is provided for 'frictionally gripping the panel 6 around the hole to hold the catch in any selected position within the hole. I

In the present instance, the means for gripping the 2 i panel 6 includes fingers 16 and 17 which project laterally outwardly from the legs 10 and 11 respectively-and are disposed behind the flange 13. The spacing between the fingers and the flange is correlated with the thickness, of the 'panel so that the latter isv frictionallyengaged in firont by the flange and in back by thefingers. Preferably, as shown in Fig. 2, the fingers are less than half the width of the legs 10 and 11 and,-for a purpose to be described later, onefinger is disposed along one side of the catch body. while the other is adjacentthesopposite side. The fingers extendout at least as, far asthe flange and, herein, the finger 17 projects beyond the flangeiwhile the finger v16 is substantially even with the flange.

In order to increase the friction between the catch and the panel 6 so that the catch stays in the adjusted position, the flange 13 is inclined rearwardly and the normal longitudinal spacing a (Fig. 3) between the outer edge of the flange and the tips of the fingers 16 and 17 is slightly less than the thickness of the panel. When the catch is in place, the flange and fingers are flexed and press against opposite sides of the panel to grip the latter frictionally.

With the foregoing construction, the catch is mounted on the panel 6 by first tilting the catch and inserting it into I .twists slightly to the left as viewed in Fig. 2 upon the application of pressure. Such pressure also flexes the walls 10 and 11 of the catch so that, in the twisted position of the latter, the finger 16 passes through the hole 9. Continued pushing flattens the flange to widen the space between it and the tip of the finger 16. As a result, this finger snaps in behind the panel and, when the pressure is released, the flange and the fingers grip the panel. The catch then may be straightened in the hole.

When the catch is mounted, the spring fingers 14 may not be in vertical alinement with the strike 7. Should that be the case, the strike will engage only one of the fingers and, as it enters between the fingers, the strike effects a camming action on the finger it engages. This slides the catch up or down as the case may require to aline the catch with the strike. Such sliding is permitted by the hole 9 being larger than the catch body. Once the catch is alined, it is retained in that position by the frictional gripping of the panel 6 by the flange 13 and fingers 16 and 17.

I claim as my invention:

1. A catch adapted to be mounted in a panel having a hole of predetermined width, said catch being made of a resilient material and comprising a body having two walls laterally spaced apart a distance less than the width of said hole and adapted to be received in the hole, latching means supported by said body, a flange projecting laterally outwardly from one end of each wall and over lapping said panel, a first finger projecting laterally outwardly from one of said walls with its outer end spaced behind said flange a distance less than the thickness of said panel, and a second finger projecting outwardly and forwardly from the other of said walls and terminatbeing greater than the thickness of the panel and said tip being disposed laterally outwardly beyond said flange "tocoopefate with tlfe Tat't'r in defining an opening wider than the thickness of said paid panel to permit the panel to enter between the flange-and the second finger.

2. A catch adapted to be mounted in a panel having a hole of predetermined width, said catch "being 'inade of "a rjesiiie'nt'material and comprising a body having two walls laterally spaced apart adistance less than the width'ot said hole and adapted to be received in the "hole, latching means supported by said body, afiange projecting laterally outwardly from one'end of each Wall "and overlapping js aid panel,'a first finger disposed behind 'saidfiange'and projecting laterally outwardly fro'rn one of said 'walls, said finger being substantially narrower than and disposed to one side of the center of said one wall, 'and'a second and similar finger projecting 'out- 15 2,302,958

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,414,662 Ostrom Jan. 21, 1947 2,756,403 Francis et a1. July 24, 1956 curley Aug. 13, 1957 

